Sunday on Monday (3.13.2011)

Some thoughts about this past week (not just Sunday!)....

* Kicked off the season of Lent last Wednesday with an "Ash Wednesday" service @ Quest. Kind of a different kind of service for many people. We always have folks at that service who tell me they've never been to an Ash Wednesday service - so cool! Glad they can experience something new and meaningful at Quest. Powerful service. Talked about pausing and RE-ORIENTING our lives toward Christ and the Cross. That's what the season of Lent in the church is all about.

* This past Saturday was the much anticipated "RISE ABOVE" Mental Health fair @ Quest. Purpose was to explore the role of spirituality in mental health. Our group organizing this event hit it out of the ball park! It was really incredible. Over 100 people showed up - most from outside in community - and a few who ended up coming back and worshiping with us at Quest yesterday morning! Many thanks to Jennifer Reynolds and her entire team for organizing this event. Phenomenal!

* Started a new series yesterday in worship --- called "DANGEROUS FAITH / pursuing an unsafe God." That whole theme really has gripped me in the past couple years, and we're exploring it in this series. Really talking about how we want safe, easy, comfortable Christianity .... but God is calling us to step out into an unsafe, radical, uncomfortable life where we die to ourselves so we can live for Him. Nothing comfortable about carrying a cross. We so need to hear this message in the American church. We've made Christianity something far from what the Bible teaches. Praying this series makes a big difference in my own life, and the lives of those in our church community.

* 16 young people are on a journey right now at Quest --- we call it "Confirmation." A time where these young people "confirm" the choice to follow Jesus that their families have raised them in. Year-long process.... but really looking forward to November when these young people will stand before our church community and say "YES" to Jesus! Doesn't get any better than that, does it? We as a church are called to invest in this generation and pass our faith along to them!!

* Over 70 women from our church went to a local concert last night! So thankful to Cindy Wilson and her team for organizing this. They had a great time and I'm sure there were alot of relationships formed and deepened!

* Excited about our upcoming mission to Belize. We commission the team in worship on March 27. Can't wait! Sending over 40 people to Belize the first week of April to continue building the relationship we've establish with German Gallardo and The Evangelical Quest Church there (yes, they took our name! How humbling and cool is that!!??)

I am so excited about the movement of God's Spirit at Quest. Thanks for being a part of this incredible journey with me!

Sunday on Monday (2.27.2011)

Some thoughts from The Quest yesterday....

* Was so excited headed into worship yesterday. Knew that God was going to move and change/transform people when we entered into His presence yesterday! Could just "feel" it. Others felt it to before we even started. Awesome stuff!

* Music is SO POWERFUL. Did a new song yesterday by Jesus Culture called "Your Love is Everything" and I was so impacted by that song! Singing to Jesus that His love is everything to us - whether things are good or bad -- His love is everything!

* I just love our band and the way they serve God and our church community through their spiritual gift of music/worship! They were incredible yesterday.

* Hearing a TON of feedback about the message yesterday. Preached 2 Cor 10:3-5 about capturing our thoughts/words and making them submit to Jesus Christ. That message got in me this week and I just had to release it! So glad that many many people heard the message. Now let's let it CHANGE and TRANSFORM us! Can you imagine life where we don't listen to what the world says about us, but only to what God says? Imagine it.... it can happen!

* One more week on the STICKS AND STONES series. Been a very practical and life-changing series for me and so many others. So thankful that God led us into this series!

* Met with the Imagine Team Leaders yesterday to discuss future land/property options. Pray for us - this is an incredible team of people who take very seriously their responsibility to be sensitive to God's leading as it relates to facilities. More information will be coming soon....

* Great Worship Design Team meeting yesterday. What an incredible group of people who meet and plan and design worship! So thankful to them! Things are changing in that group - but it's all good and God will use it to grow Quest even more!!

* Had a couple premarital counseling sessions yesterday. I absolutely LOVE meeting with these young couples and speaking into their lives as it relates to the incredible covenant they are making. What a privilege!

* So thankful for the 40 something people headed to Belize in a few weeks! They met again last night and the excitement is growing as they look toward GOING to Belize in April. I'm praying for you all and look forward to what God is going to do!!

* Had another "GroupLink" last night at Quest. Several folks and families showed up to learn more about community groups and connect with groups. I LOVED being able to spend a few minutes talking to folks. Love the relationships at Quest. GroupLink nights are always great!

Big week and month coming up at Quest. Lots of stuff going on, missions to prepare for, weddings, etc.

Love our church community! Honor to serve as the pastor of this incredible community!!

Don't be a jerk

Pastor Eugene Chou on speaking/preaching the Gospel in Love.

Resolve NOT to Gossip

In a series @ The Quest Church right now called STICKS and STONES....





Tomorrow I'm preaching on "gossip." Defining it as --- "speaking or hearing anything that can hurt another person" --- and of course, that person is not in your presence when you are speaking or hearing something that would hurt them if they were.

I've realized this week that this one issue is so TOXIC to both our relationship with God, and with others. Gossip erodes our intimacy with our Creator because it is a SIN. It is listed in Romans 1 among sins like murder, etc. Obviously, when we say or hear things that can hurt others, God takes it very seriously (even if we don't). In addition, it erodes our relationships. Certainly with the person we're speaking about (or hearing about - as we begin to think differently about them after hearing negative things about them), but in addition - it erodes our relationships with the whoever we're talking to or listening to (the gossip itself). Think about it - when you hear someone talking about someone else - don't you realize that they will do the SAME THING to you? So we put up walls, etc ... to protect ourselves ... when God would have us taking walls down and striving for more depth and intimacy in our relationships.

I cannot think of one positive reason to gossip -not one. Yet I have participated in it - by speaking about and hearing about others. In doing so, I have sinned against God and people.

I am resolving to NOT gossip. I will not speak hurtfully about others. I will not listen to conversation that could be hurtful to others.

Won't you join me in resolving to NOT GOSSIP? Can you imagine what kind of world we could live in if we made the resolution?

Proverbs 18:21

The tongue has the power of life and death....

2011 Book list

"Leaders are readers." --- Charles Jones

I've always heard that, but didn't practice it. Decided to change that and really get into reading over the past year. Love hearing what others are reading, and sharing what I'm reading as well.

Here is my completed list so far for 2011:

1. RADICAL by David Platt

2. COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE by Andy Stanley

3. THE HOLE IN OUR GOSPEL by Richard Stearns

4. BLINK by Malcolm Gladwell

5. THE NEXT CHRISTIANS by Gabe Lyons

6. CHAZOWN by Craig Groeschel

7. THE MILLENIALS by Thom and Jess Rainer

8. NECESSARY ENDINGS by Henry Cloud (actually in middle of this one)

-----What are you reading these days?

"The CALL" Conference

Working on an idea for a one-day conference entitled "The Call". Thought behind it is that there are a lot of young people out there being called by God to mission and ministry - in the church, outside the church, etc.

As a United Methodist pastor, I'd like to host this event, but make it ecumenical in approach. Meaning I don't just want people to come who have an interest in the Methodist Church. In reality, those who come could be called to many different denominations, missions, para-church ministries, or secular vocations where ministry is lived out every day.

Been thinking on this for some time and hoping to launch later this year or next year.

Thoughts?

Sunday on Monday (2.6.2011)

Some reflections from yesterday @ The Quest:

* Was back in the preaching "saddle" yesterday. Great to be away the Sunday before with my wife for a wedding and some sabbath time, but I always miss preaching! Was busting to share the message yesterday as we began our new series called "Sticks and Stones" ....

* Our band was incredible yesterday. They always are, but just really felt the energy yesterday as they led us in worship. Such talented musicians who share their spiritual gifts with our church community. We are so blessed to have such great worship leaders!

* Record attendance the last 4 Sundays at Quest. On average, largest worship attendance we've ever had 4 weeks in a row. Love that people are connecting with God and relationships in this community. That's why we exist.

* Had over a dozen new folks come to "Starting Point" yesterday - a one hour "get to know Quest" lunch thing after worship. Love love love being able to sit down and talk with visitors about their experience at worship. They have such valuable things to say and we have things to learn from them!

* A highlight for me personally was my oldest daughter being in the first 30 minutes of worship for the music. She and the other "tweens" sat right behind me and loved hearing them sing and be a part of the worshiping community before they headed down to the Tween Extreme space for spiritual teaching.

* Had a couple other great meetings yesterday in the afternoon. My favorite part of the church environment is getting to know people and sharing life together. Such a privilege!

* I LOVE our church community. It is such an amazing group of people who come together to love and serve God and our community and world. I and my family are so blessed to be a part of what God is doing at Quest!

Sticks and Stones

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

Yeah, right.

The reality is that words hurt much more than we realize, and cause long-lasting pain and destruction in someone's life that can paralyze them from becoming who they were really created to be.

Ancient wisdom literature challenges us by saying:

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

What a challenge! To think that every word I speak bring death or life (and I would say in our tech-savvy culture - every word I write, text, email, blog, facebook, etc).

Starting a series this week at The Quest to explore this idea - that our words are powerful and can build up or tear down. Very practical series. One that we all need to hear and grow from.

May our words be words that build and heal and encourage. May our words be filled with love and compassion. May our words challenge and convict, but not condemn. May our words be His Word.

Sunday on Monday (1.30.2011)

Some thoughts from yesterday @ The Quest:

* I wasn't in worship yesterday morning! Was actually traveling back from a wedding I officiated in Orlando. Shauna and I went a couple days early and just spent some time together by ourselves. After 16 years of marriage I still encourage all couples to get away and spend time together - for a few days once in awhile - but even more than --- date your spouse every week! It will only make your marriage better. Dare you to try it!

* Was telling my wife, Shauna, yesterday - I love it that we can be away and things just roll on as normal! Demonstrates the strength of our leaders and team at Quest. So thankful for so many who serve so sacrificially to make Sundays happen. Was a big day --- 2 morning worship services, a Belize Training meeting, kids and youth ministries, and a prayer service to end the night. Awesome!

* In worship yesterday we gave away thousands of dollars! One of my favorite things to do (really missed not being there for that part!). So thankful and consider it a real privilege to be able to partner with amazing organizations like The Golden Harvest Food Bank, When Help Can't Wait, UGA Wesley Foundation, Mike Freace and his Mission to Africa through Westminster Schools of Augusta, and our on-going Belize Mission. Thank you for giving regularly to The Quest Church ---- your offerings are making an impact locally and around the world - enabling us to give to such great Kingdom minded missions like those we had in worship with us yesterday!

* Started working on first message of new series while flying home yesterday from Orlando. Series is entitled "Sticks and Stones... the power of our words." It's going to be incredible ... but in the sense of challenging us to think about how every words we say (or text or email or put on facebook or blogs, etc) have the ability to bring LIFE or DESTRUCTION to others. Been thinking about this series for months. Very passionate about it. Seeing my own failures in this area... and know that we all need to hear from God's WORD about our WORDS. You need to be here for this!

* Lastly, ran by the Belize Training event last night for a few minutes and prayed for our 44 Quest missionaries headed to Belize in April. What a privilege!

I Love Servants!

Doing a stage renovation @ The Quest this week. Gotta admit - just blown away by the team getting this done. They have worked tirelessly this week to build this new stage, add artwork to our walls, etc. I AM SO THANKFUL for those who love God and demonstrate that love through sacrificial service like this. The Church would not be what it is without servants, following in the footsteps and example of Jesus, the Greatest Servant of all.

IRRESISTIBLE

Beginning a new series this coming Sunday (1/16) at The Quest. Been thinking and praying on this series for some time now, and stoked that it is finally here. Just really feel like this is a series we need to hear and respond to. Calling it "The Irresistible Invitation." Must give props to the idea being sparked by another pastor named Steven Furtick doing a message called "The Invitation" last year. Loved the idea of God issuing us an "invitation" to know Him.

The series will have three themes - one each week for the next three weeks:

Jan. 16
The invitation to know an irresistible God

Jan. 23
The invitation to become a part of an irresistible community

Jan. 30
The invitation to live for an irresistible mission/purpose


I've said it before and will say it again --- This series can be life-changing. It truly can. If we will not only listen to what it being said, but cooperate with God's Spirit to make it true in our everyday lives.

I'm praying for everyone who comes, that we'll be open to hear from God in a fresh way and to apply His Word to our lives.

See you around!

Sunday on Monday (1.9.2011)

Thoughts from yesterday @ The Quest ...

* Seriously amazing day in the life of our church community. Celebrated God's FAITHFULNESS to our church over the past 5 or 6 years since we began! So many great stories to tell of all God has done and is doing. If you missed it, you can check it out here.

* Loved listening to the Steele's share their story of life transformation! A testimony to God's faithfulness and moving in the life of this church community!

* Our band is simply amazing. Great worship yesterday.... as it is every week. So thankful for an amazing group of dedicated and gifted musicians who share their gifts and talents with our church community!

* Bob and Beth Farris showed up for one of our services. Bob is our consultant for the Imagine Building Campaign we are in. He and I have established a close friendship. Joy to have them worship with us yesterday!

* Grand opening of our new facility "The Gathering Place." This facility is incredible and a huge blessing. We are very excited about its use for our youth and other groups, and also to be a place of outreach to the community around us. Join us this Friday night, Jan. 14, for our UNPLUGGED CONCERT SERIES, 7 pm. Bring a friend, especially if they don't know Christ or have a worship community they are a part of. Great opportunity to introduce them to an informal and safe environment to connect with others.

* Speaking of our new facility - we have an amazing team that serve so selflessly and pulled off our grand opening and day of celebration. I am SO THANKFUL for servant leaders who love God and people and do whatever they can to demonstrate that!

* Mentioned to the church about a new series that begins this coming Sunday, Jan. 16 - called "The Irresistible Invitation." I am STOKED about this series. It is going to be powerful, beyond just hearing, though ... it is going to challenge me and our whole church community to become more IRRESISTIBLE to the world around us ... as we live out our lives for Jesus. The Gospel is missional and outwardly focused. Our lives must be the same. Don't miss this series!

Have a great week!

JOHN

Sunday on Monday (12.12.2010)

Thoughts from yesterday...

• Preached on "peace" from Luke 2. Talked about the PATH OF PEACE being 1 - peace with God, 2 - the peace of God, and 3 - becoming a peace-maker. Challenged everyone to move along the path of peace towards God.
• Had a couple join The Quest at the early service. Loved the words shared when they joined. They talked about finding God through community. That's what it's all about!!
• Great worship design meeting. Stoked about some upcoming series at Quest!
• Belize Celebration last night was pretty incredible. Hearing people share stories about God's work in them through this experience was amazing. So thankful for this partnership!
• Went home very tired. Long day of great ministry!

Sunday Thoughts

Noticed that several pastors/leaders blog about random thoughts on Sunday afternoons. Kind of free flow thinking. I like that and am getting in on the action! So here are some thoughts about the past day ...

• Was great to be back in my regular routine today. Haven't preached to my Quest community in 2 Sundays in a row! Love Forrest Page and Mike Freace and so thankful they brought incredible messages in my absence. But man, good to be back today!

• I need to practice what I'm preaching! Slowing down and "rethinking Christmas" is way easier said than done. I'm working hard on creating space in this season for what God wants to do in my life.

• I love our staff at Quest. They are amazing people. They love God and they truly love people and being in ministry with people. Quest is what it is because of amazing visionary leaders who want to see God do even more!

• I'm excited about Christmas Eve. Going with a whole different spin on the Christmas story that a friend shared with me the other day. Blew me away, and hope to blows you away as well! Bring a friend!!! Christmas Eve is the one day - more than any other - that people outside the church are most open to invitations to come be a part of a church community. We need to take this opportunity to truly love and care about the people around us!
  

• Leadership requires vision. I'm learning this more in the past year than ever. And that vision can only come from God. My conjuring up vision is worthless. I need God's vision. We all do. And along with this - leadership can be lonely. Sometimes we feel like we're out on the front lines and like no one is following. It is those times that we must trust in God and surround ourselves with accountability and people who will continue to walk the journey with us. We cannot do it alone.

Hoping you have a great week!!!

John

Upcoming Series at The Quest

Beginning a new series at The Quest this Sunday, Sept. 19. Join us at 9 am or 10:30 am as we explore how to have healthy relationships by establishing "boundaries" in our lives.

New Series

QC begins a new series this Sunday - April 25 - "The Simple life / live for what matters most." Join us at 9 or 10:30 am!

Mediocrity

Recently I've been struggling with mediocrity as it relates to my own personal life, church life, and even denominational structures. It seems that so often I am willing to settle for less than God's best for me personally, in my church, and even in the Church at large.

Mediocrity keeps us from the things of the Kingdom. In our personal relationships with God, our marriages, our families, our churches, etc. God is not a God of mediocrity, but of passion and vision and advancement and growth of His Kingdom. His Spirit is ready and willing to move in our lives and churches if we will but wake up to Him.

May we be people who do not settle for mediocrity. May we be people who are ignited with a passion to see God's Kingdom on earth.

Belize

Spent about 5 days in Belize just over a week ago. My church was exploring long-term missional relationships that we can set up. Planning to take teams to Belize twice a year beginning this Fall.

The picture above is me with guy named German Garraldo. Very excited about the potential relationship we are setting up with him and his ministry in Belmopan (the capital city of Belize). German owns a garage/road repair business. He is turning his business facility into a church facility, where he can hold worship gatherings, community events, as well as house young people with no other place to go. He literally taking "church" to the people in his city. Pray for him and for his ministry. Pray for our church as we explore the potential relationship we might have with his church.

Very excited about the next steps of this endeavor!

Drink Coffee. Do Good.

Drink Coffee. Do Good. Really? Yes - it's true. "Land of a Thousand Hills" coffee is Rwandan coffee where a good bit of the money used to purchase the coffee goes right back to Rwandan coffee growers to help them and their communities. Rwanda is a country that just a decade ago was torn apart by genocide. This coffee company is doing what they can to help bring financial stability and even reconciliation to the people groups of Rwanda. And you and I can help .... all the over here in America ... by just buying and drinking this coffee. Check out more about it at www.drinkcoffeedogood.com.

My church just started using this coffee last week. Good cause. Good coffee.

Father Daugther Meetings

My 10 year old, Morgan, and I have been have "father daughter dates (or meetings)" every Friday for about 2 years now. Time is spent reading the Bible, discussing it, praying, etc. This past week we added a new dimension to our times together. I'm seeking to help her establish a regular and consistent "devotional time" with God every day. So now one of her goals is to read the Bible and pray every night before bed. She only got 2 of 7 days last week ... but it's a start! Very excited about this. Can't think of anything more important I can do as a father than to love my daughter and to help her learn to love and be loved by God by spending time with Him consistently.

We're going to say it

Starting a new series this Sunday @ The Quest. We're going to SAY the things that many of us are THINKING, but for whatever reason we're just not saying. For example - "I'm not the person you think I am" or "I need help" or "I'm mad at God for (fill in the blank)."

The church has created a culture where we're just not permitted to say some things that really need to be said/addressed.

I love addressing controversial things!

Big Boys

Last night as I was putting my twins to bed (Drew and Ty - just over 3 years old) I had them kneel down beside their new "big boy" beds to pray. We've never done that before. I usually just lay with them in their beds, say a quick prayer for them, and that's it. But for whatever reason, decided to switch things up last night. It was crazy! By that I mean - they did it - and did it so well! They knelt there, folded their hands, and repeated line after line that I prayed - probably for about 2 minutes or so. I was absolutely blown away.

Made me realize something important that relates to all of us. We need to be pushed spiritually. If we just settle for the same old stuff - we will never grow. When I pushed my boys to grow spiritually - they did - even at 3 years old.

I'm 37. I've gotten comfortable with my spirituality. Have you? Let's push each other to grow.

Sabbath

Wow. Forgot how much I need "sabbath" - the Biblical concept of "rest" (instituted by God Himself in Genesis). Been in Pennsylvania visiting family for a few days. Staying through Thanksgiving. Been a great time to relax. Refocus. Find my center in God again. Makes me realize that I need this more in my life daily. No matter "where" I am. Need to take the time to "be still" / Sabbath.

Don't come to church this Sunday

I'm feeling like I need to tell folks not to come to church this Sunday .... unless they want to be confronted with the truth and the need to change. We're doing a "Thanksgiving" theme ... but we're talking about American consumerism as it compares with world hunger, poverty, etc. Just one of the stats I'll be sharing is that a child dies every 6 seconds from hunger in our world. During the course of my sermon/message Sunday - about 350 children will die around the world. Because of lack of food. I wept as I wrote that statistic into my message this week as I sat at a local coffeeship drinking my more than $2 cup of coffee (by the way - half the world's population lives on $2 per day). I wept because I AM NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN EMERGENCY TO ME. How can children dying not be an emergency to me? It would be if it was my child. I would never allow it to happen to my child. But as followers of Jesus Christ and His Way, we are called to view all children as His children. Our children. The reason children are dying is because we are not responding to the way and the call of Jesus. It doesn't matter enough to us. I must change. God help me to change.

So I hope and pray no one shows up Sunday. Because if they do, they will never ever be the same again. They won't be able to be.

Relevance

Just ran into a guy outside our church facility with a backpack shouting out something as he walked by - something like - "down with the new world order." I was inquisitive, so I walked over to him and asked - "what are you saying?" He said it again and then proceeded to talk about "the new world order," another group called "the illuminati," and a couple other groups I can't recall. He talked about how they are trying to take over the world, etc. I asked him - "Brother, what do you believe?" He told me he believed "in Jesus, the Christ." I said - "well so do I." I asked him why he didn't just talk about Jesus and His love if he's going to walk around shouting stuff, and he told me that Jesus is going to come back to this earth "angry" and full of "judgment" for these groups. I challenged him, asking if that is really what he believes the central message of Jesus was - judgment for a few select groups of people. He said "yes." I told Him I believe Jesus' central message was of the Kingdom and of love. I challenged him again saying that his speaking just didn't seem to be relevant, and because of that, people wouldn't listen. He then murmured a few things and turned and walked away. Interesting conversation.

It makes me realize that each of us is a "picture" of Jesus Christ to the world. What we say and how we say it reflects Jesus Christ, if we are claiming to follow Him. Man, we need to be responsible with this message and really be sure we are reflecting Him. Running into that guy today was a good thing for me. I'm challenged to look at my own life and ask myself - "What am I saying about Jesus with my life?"